http:www.grizzliesonline.com Pete Pranica is the TV play-by-play announcer for the Memphis Grizzlies. He travels with the team and hosts all off-court events as well as the Grizzlies pre-game show, Grizzlies Tonight! en petes_perspective@yahoo.com Copyright 2009 2009-11-11T15:30:25+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/gameday_in_houston_look_back_look_ahead/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/gameday_in_houston_look_back_look_ahead/ The season’s third back to back of the young season finds Memphis in Texas to take on the Rockets. Even without Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, the Rockets are making their way in the rugged Southwest Division. In dropping a 93-79 decision to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Memphis Grizzlies reverted to a troubling trend of one-on-one basketball. The Grizzlies recorded just 11 assists on the night on 29 made field goals (38%) and only four assists after a first half that saw the Grizzlies and Blazers even at 45. Portland meanwhile, recorded 20 assists on 32 baskets (63%). Winning on a consistent basis at the NBA level requires execution, teamwork, attention to detail and leadership. The Grizzlies, by any measure the youngest and least experienced team in the NBA, show that inexperience with questionable shot selection, one-on-one basketball and a sometimes-tenuous grasp of team principles on both ends of the floor. After a gritty first-half effort that saw the Grizzlies dominate in the paint (+14 points) and on the fast break (a 9-0 edge) while frustrating Portland’s offense by forcing ten turnovers – five of them Memphis steals – the Grizzlies managed just 38 points in their weakest offensive half of the season. The second half also saw Portland get its transition game going, outscoring Memphis 10-4 on the break while harassing the Grizzlies into 31% shooting with seven turnovers and four assists. Tonight, Memphis faces a Houston team without Yao Ming or Tracy McGrady and is doing just fine offensively (8th in scoring at 104.1 points per game). A major reason why the Rockets score the ball so well is because they get easy baskets. Houston is one of the best steal teams in the league and top 5 in converting opponents turnovers into points. The turnover story will most likely tell the tale of tonight’s game. Otherwise, both the Rockets and Grizzlies have a similar profile: good offense, great rebounding, decent transition game but porous defense. Houston will also be smarting from dropping a 17-point first-half lead on the road at division rival Dallas. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies need to find something on which to hang their hat on both ends of the floor. Tonight’s game will also present a challenge for Mike Conley, who must face off against gifted Rockets guard Aaron Brooks. One final note: the injury to Hasheem Thabeet appears to be less serious than first thought. Initially, it appeared Thabeet’s jaw was broken which would have resulted in wiring his jaw shut. Further examination revealed that the fracture was not in the jaw itself, but where the teeth connect with jaw. After some serious dental work, it’s possible that Thabeet could be back this weekend. 2009-11-11T15:30:25+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/road_wrap/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/road_wrap/ Five games in seven nights. No wins, but a better sense of where the Grizzlies are and their areas for improvement. Where Are the Grizzlies? A week ago, the Memphis Grizzlies left Tennessee with a 1-1 record in their pocket and a five-game road trip with three very winnable games (Sacramento, Golden State and the Clippers) on the agenda. A week later, five losses, four lost double-digit leads and three 40-point scorers in Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Martin and Kobe Bryant. Where are the Grizzlies? First off, they have a long way to go defensively. The effort was better against the Lakers than it had been in previous games, but the Clipper game was a sobering reminder that the paint must be protected against all comers, not just the Lakers. Communication breakdowns on defense for a team as young as the Grizzlies are to be expected. Defense is about knowing your assignment and that of your teammates and trusting your teammates to be in the right place at the right time. If you haven’t played together very long, communication and trust takes a while to develop. The other reality is that the Grizzlies don’t have a top-level one-on-one defender. They have a roster full of young, live, athletic bodies—but those bodies need to commit themselves to doing the right thing defensively. On offense, the Grizzlies can flat out score, inside and out. They’ve posted the greatest increase in scoring average from last season to this (they’ve also posted the biggest dropoff in defensive efficiency, which is a major explanation for the 1-6 record so far). However, the turnover machine has to be shut down. The Grizzlies averaged 17.8 turns on this road trip. That’s too high a number, but when you factor in that the Grizzlies (here’s that defense thing again) forced only 12 turnovers per game on the trip, it’s easy to see why the Grizzlies went 0-5 on the trip. You simply cannot give anyone—even the league’s bottom-feeders—extra shots at the goal while derailing your own potent offense. The Grizzlies’ shortcomings aren’t ones that cannot be corrected, but it will take more time for this team to gel on both sides of the floor. Allen Iverson My take on the Iverson situation is this: he’s requested time to deal with a personal issue. I have no idea what that issue is, but rather than spend time speculating on what might or might not be happening behind the scenes, let’s just let it play out. Allen needs time, management granted him as much time as he feels he needs. Period. Amen. Allen Iverson can most certainly still play in the NBA, but he needs to have his mind right and the daily conversation surrounding him and his role with the Grizzlies has been, at least from where I sit, a distraction. The Grizzlies are a young team desperately fighting to develop an identity, but with Iverson missing most of camp and the first three games of the season with the hamstring injury, it has been an even bigger struggle than it might be otherwise. Lionel Hollins has, with the understandable exception of the Golden State game, kept his cool and is committed to getting the Grizzlies on the right road. He’s giving his team the right message; it’s up to the players to put it into action on the floor. 2009-11-08T16:29:18+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/grizzlies_at_golden_state/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/grizzlies_at_golden_state/ Two consecutive sunny days in San Francisco has helped the Grizzlies’ mood after dropping a winnable game in Sacramento. Here’s how they need to take down the Warriors. Watching the body language of the Grizzlies around the hotel lobby as they departed for a workout yesterday, I couldn’t sense tension or anxiety or anything like that. They’re frustrated for sure and they’re tired of being Sacramento’s opening-night foil two years running. But tonight presents an intriguing opportunity against a team the Grizzlies swept 3-0 last season. The Warriors are 0-2, the only team in the league to not play three games. They dropped a one-point decision to the Rockets and got blasted in Phoenix behind 20 Steve Nash assists. Golden State, as you might figure, plays an up-tempo style. It’s high risk (19 turnovers per game) with high reward (16.5 fast break points, 4th in the league). The Grizzlies, at least so far, are in the same boat. They lead the league in fast break points while committing the fourth-most turnovers in the league. In fact, when you put the two teams’ stats side by side, they’re virtually a mirror image, except for rebounding where the Grizzlies are far better than the Warriors. Memphis must take care of the glass as well as the basketball and straddle that fine line between aggression and recklessness on offense. They also must prevent a monster game from either Monta Ellis or Stephen Jackson. In consecutive games, the Grizzlies have been torched by Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Martin. Normally, the race to 100 points determines the winner. Forget that, the race is to 110 points tonight. Sidelight: I talked to Marc Gasol last night outside the hotel and I congratulated him on his vastly improved play. He wanted nothing with the compliments, instead insisting, “I know I can play better.” I will give him credit; he is all about improving and winning and competing. I don’t know yet if he might be on the path to the league’s “most improved” award since he was pretty good last season, but if he averages a double-double of say 18 points and 11 rebounds for the year, then the Grizzlies need to rev up that bandwagon. 2009-11-04T16:41:35+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/a_brief_intermission/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/a_brief_intermission/ Just enough time for a quick post while getting ready for the Sacramento game. Finally caught my breath from the Denver tilt. Let’s put this to rest right now, shall we? Last night’s O.J. Mayo-Rudy Gay “chat” was more a matter of competitive fire run rampant than anything else. I’m not sure why people have felt compelled to paint O.J. and Rudy as rivals. Ain’t so. They need each other to win and they realize that they also need their teammates. O.J. was exactly right with his sentiments last night—the Grizzlies weren’t getting stops against Denver, but rather trading baskets. Final fourth quarter count? 30-29 Nuggets. They’ll sort it all out. Honestly, I’m relieved and gratified to see this type of passion from the Grizzlies. They didn’t back down against one of the best homecourt teams in the business and a Western Conference finalist from a season ago. I’m calling out anyone who suggested—and there are some who were suggesting even this pre-season—that Marc Gasol was little more than a “throw in” and a “coat rack” in the trade with the Lakers. Anyone going to go public and admit he’s an awfully good player? I’m waiting. The reports are that Allen Iverson may well be making his Grizzlies debut tonight. I have no official word on that, but you can be sure that the Grizzlies are going to be very careful with AI’s hamstring. Those injuries can linger and nag for weeks and months. With the Grizzlies facing three (currently) winless teams in the remaining four games—the Kings, Warriors and Clippers are a combined 0-9—rushing Iverson back to action unless he’s 100% ready to play would make no sense. ARCO Arena will be sold out tonight. The community banded together to get the building sold out for opening night and for the next home game against Atlanta. The Kings have a chance offensively because of Kevin Martin, who makes a habit of lighting up the Grizzlies. However, the rest of the offense has been poor. The Kings are shooting less than 41% and allowing opponents to hit at better than 51%. Defending the perimeter, a sore spot for Sacramento last season, is even worse so far this season: opponents are hitting a ridiculous 46% of their threes. New head coach Paul Westphal has made the curious decision to sit seven-footer Spencer Hawes in favor of 6-9 Sean May in the middle. Unless Westphal changes up his strategy, it should be a big night for Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. 2009-11-02T17:15:00+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/start_of_the_long_road/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/start_of_the_long_road/ The euphoria of a big win Friday night quickly gave way to the urgency of packing up for a five-game, seven-night road trip. Now safely in the team’s Denver hotel, a moment to look back. The Grizzlies’ 115-107 win over Toronto was satisfying on a number of fronts: - The Grizzlies faced off against a team brimming with enthusiasm from their 101-91 win over Cleveland and, although pushed to the limit by an All Star-caliber performance from Chris Bosh, pushed right back, limiting Bosh offensively in the second half and keeping Hedo Turkoglu to a very pedestrian 14 points (and only three of those after halftime). - The Grizzlies won with a fourth-quarter comeback, something they accomplished just five times in 51 situations a year ago. They also put up 39 points in the fourth quarter, more than in any quarter last season. Moreover, the 117 points represented more points than the Grizzlies scored in all but one game last season. - Normally, I’m not a big chest-thumping guy, but I liked the swagger the Grizzlies showed in the fourth quarter. Rudy Gay made a big play and pounded his chest. I think he should do both more often. Rudy had the type of game that he should have—a full stat sheet with the exception of just two free throw attempts. Nine rebounds, three steals and a block were a great complement to his 17 points. - Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are going to be a handful. Gasol has a variety of post moves and is a strong rebounder in his own right, while Randolph can play anywhere on the floor which spaces the floor beautifully for the Grizzlies offense. Forty-nine points and 14 rebounds and 11-for-11 free throw shooting is really good stuff. - Randolph gets the rap for being a “black hole.” Well, the teams he’s played on since the Blazers dismantled the 2003 playoff team have been varying shades of bad. If you were playing for the Knicks or Clippers would you want to pass the ball? In Memphis, Randolph has talented teammates and he’s eager to share. His press conference talk about “I want to win” sounds canned, but it’s true. Players in this league would rather win that score a bunch of points. At the end of the day, it’s all about the “W.” 2009-10-31T23:22:16+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/reality_check/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/reality_check/ It has become an unwanted tradition—like the holiday houseguest who overstays their welcome—losing on Opening Night. But there are still 81 more games to be played—98.8% of the season is still left. I had the chance to spend a fair amount of time in the company of Lou Holtz when he was coaching at Notre Dame. He was fond of saying, “Things are neither as good as they seem nor as bad as they seem. Reality lies somewhere in between.” On October 17th, the Grizzlies dusted the Detroit Pistons 115-94. On October 28th, the Pistons returned the favor 96-74. On October 17th, the Grizzlies never trailed, scored 25 fast-break points and shot 53%. On October 28th, the Grizzlies led briefly, had 7 fast-break points and shot 36%. On October 17th, the Grizzlies forced 20 turnovers and rang up 25 assists. On October 28th, the Grizzlies forced just 9 turnovers and rang up only 10 assists. See what I’m getting at? Sure, one game was in pre-season and the other opening night so that factors in a little bit, but—as Rob Fischer would say— really? The Grizzlies will work long and hard today to get the awful taste out of their mouths in preparation for the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. There are positives upon which to build, including Marc Gasol’s 21-point, 15-rebound effort and a +10 rebounding margin. Zach Randolph played well in his debut with 9 rebounds (5 offensive) and Rudy Gay willed himself to 16 points despite only one free throw attempt. And you know that Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo (a combined 3 for 16) will bounce back with a vengeance. Opening Night was one game. Unfortunately, it was a very bad night at the office against a hot team that came in with a chip on its shoulder, trying to prove that it still belongs among the Eastern elite. A good demonstration for the Grizzlies to emulate Friday against Toronto. 2009-10-29T12:40:46+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/five_things_to_watch/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/five_things_to_watch/ I know there’s still one more pre-season game, but I’m itching to start the regular season. Here are five key things to watch as the Grizzlies embark on their 2009-2010 season. This has been one of the most intriguing off-seasons in team history: three quality rookies drafted in May, Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson acquired. So what does it all mean? Hard to peg at this point, though most national writers and commentators have taken great delight in bashing the latter two moves. Sure, Randolph and Iverson have had their less-than-stellar moments, but does that necessarily mean they’ll implode the Grizzlies franchise? Honestly, Randolph has been a good fit so far and his attitude is better than I’ve ever seen (ditto for his conditioning). I’m not overly concerned with Z-Bo, but here are the five storylines that will define how the Grizzlies fare this season. Which Way Rudy? Rudy Gay has phenomenal talent. The whispers from Las Vegas, where Gay and O.J. Mayo participated in the USA Basketball camp, were that Rudy was one of the best, if not the best player in the camp. That’s high praise. If there is one thing that dogs Gay, it is a lack of consistency. Some nights he’s big, other nights virtually invisible. He’s such an easygoing sort: great for community relations and fan interaction, less so when you need a cold-blooded killer in the final seconds. Rudy told me that he learned in Vegas just how much work it takes to get to the pinnacle of the profession. Gay and Mayo spent long hours in the gym, working on their games and their physiques and training camp efforts have provided evidence of progress. Gay has already played for a plethora of coaches: Fratello, Barone, Iavaroni and now Hollins. Without question, his relationship with Hollins is far better than with any of the others. Grizzlies fans are hoping that consistency on the bench will translate to consistency on the part of #22. Extra Juice? There can be no question that O.J. Mayo has star potential. The cool name, the slick game and devotion to the nuances of basketball make him a player on the rise. Now having gone through an 82-game NBA season, Mayo realizes more and more just what it takes to be great in the NBA. He’s talked about having a more well-rounded game—adding assists and rebounds to his vaunted scoring ability. The question is how much upside is left to Mayo? He hasn’t reached his peak, nor may he for another year or two of seasoning, but he’s showing signs of being a savvy vet. I was most impressed by his leadership in training camp, working with rookies and generally being vocal. His leadership is key. Rudy doesn’t have the “take-charge” personality of Mayo and a team needs one of its best players to be a leader. Also, Mayo cannot suffer a sophomore slump if the Grizzlies are to take a step forward in the West. Is “The Answer” Truly the Answer? People who have been around Allen Iverson testify to his competitive drive, his candor and freakish ability. They also note that A.I. can be a challenge to work with (see last season in Detroit and various moments in Philadelphia and Denver). Iverson’s hamstring injury in the pre-season delayed the drama of “will he/won’t he” start until the regular season. As a result, it’s also unknown just how Iverson can blend into this young and inexperienced team—both on the floor and in the lockerroom. If there is just one thing that Iverson can offer, it is first-hand experience on what it is like and what it takes to be a Hall of Fame caliber player. Beyond that, is Iverson going to be a starter or a reserve? A 20-point scorer or a facilitator? A lockerroom mentor or a loner? No one knows. I believe that Iverson has it in him to do what’s right for the team after a summer where the league basically gave up on him, but only time will reveal the Answer’s answer. A Little Help Please Last season, the Grizzlies’ bench was not a strong unit, save for Hakim Warrick, since departed for Milwaukee. For as much attention that has been paid to Iverson and Randolph, relatively little has been paid to the additional depth the three rookies—Hasheem Thabeet, Sam Young and DeMarre Carroll—will provide. Additionally, when Iverson returns either he or someone of NBA starter caliber will be coming off the bench. The bench will be young, but more talented than last year’s group. It’s a vital piece of the Memphis puzzle because you can’t expect the Grizzlies to have the same excellent luck they had last season with health. Are You With Me? Fitting that the team’s marketing slogan revolves around “Grizz Nation” and “We’re in This Together.” While the talent level of the Grizzlies has been raised (thank you Chris Wallace) the need for cohesion has grown as well. With four potential 20-point scorers in the lineup, someone will have to serve as a glue guy and everyone will have to learn to play together. Even beyond that, all the youth on this team raises concern about its focus and maturity. The NBA season is a grueling marathon with brutal stretches (like five games in seven nights out west the first week of November) and each game isn’t exactly a strawberry festival with 48 long minutes with potential for wide swings in momentum. Talent is a great start, but the ability to apply that talent with tenacity and exactness to the task at hand is not a matter of lacing up your sneakers and letting things happen—it is about making things happen. 2009-10-22T19:20:45+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/twenty_second_timeout_--_october_20/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/twenty_second_timeout_--_october_20/ This has been a very active off-season with only a little time to catch one’s breath and even less time to blog. The New Uniforms I applaud the Grizzlies for handling their third alternate jersey as they did. Some teams just take the original design and slap a different color on it and say “done.” The Grizzlies went through a pretty exhaustive process to come up with not just another jersey, but a statement. Some had speculated that the Grizzlies would go with a yellow alternate, but then you’d look like the Pacers’ alternate uniform. The Beale Street Blue is also more true to the city of Memphis and its musical heritage. I also like the strong yellow accents on the side of the uniform—the sharpness of the angles plays off of the notion of strength as well as the strong angles of the ancient Egyptian pyramids, digging even deeper into Memphis roots. The item that stands out for me though is the yoke running over into the back. I don’t remember ever seeing a design quite like it. Overall, I give the design high marks for aesthetics and the fact that some actual thought was given to creating a third uniform—one that is at once related to the original design, but also has its own distinct touches. The Detroit Game I had wanted to write up a long recap of Saturday night’s beatdown of Detroit, but the long weekend of travel (I did an SEC soccer match in Knoxville the night before) did me in. That said, if you are going to try and figure out where the Grizzlies will be this season, take the Atlanta game and the Detroit game and take the middle ground. The Grizzlies aren’t going to be as bad as they were against Atlanta, nor will they be as good as they were against Detroit. However, the Detroit game gives everyone a good idea of how Memphis wants to play. Swarming, aggressive and eager to take it to the rack. I made a note in the first half: “By far, best effort on both ends.” To wit: - Twelve of the first 20 points scored by the Grizzlies were on the fast break. - Early in the second quarter, the Grizzlies had a 17-5 rebounding edge. - The Grizzlies had a 20-point lead midway through the 3rd quarter despite 13 turnovers and 19 lost points. - Memphis’ draw and kick game was phenomenal and the ball movement was crisp (well, yeah, except for the turnovers of course). You will expect that Jason Maxiell will play more on opening night and that Tayshaun Prince will see the floor (out Saturday with a cut toe). You’ll also expect that Ben Gordon and Charlie Villaneuva will be factors as well. It was only one game, and a preseason one at that, but the Grizzlies played the way they are capable of playing. Let’s hope it’s more than norm than the exception. My twenty seconds are up. You’ve been great. I’m here all season. Don’t forget to tip your server. 2009-10-20T14:09:38+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/grizzlies-pistons_preview/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/grizzlies-pistons_preview/ Tonight marks the last home pre-season game for the Grizzlies who are trying to remedy turnover and defensive issues in facing a very different Pistons team. The Memphis Grizzlies wind up their home preseason schedule tonight at 7 pm against the Detroit Pistons. Ironically, the Pistons will also be Memphis’ opponent on opening night on October 28th. The Pistons are undergoing a renovation. The Michael Curry experiment at head coach failed and Dumars passed over more experienced head coaches for longtime NBA assistant John Kuester. Tempermental Rasheed Wallace is gone to Boston, but Dumars has re-stocked the talent cupboard with former Milwaukee Buck Charlie Villanueva and high-scoring Ben Gordon. The franchise is very high on guard Rodney Stuckey which made Chauncey Billups expendable last season. Dumars and Kuester are hopeful that journeyman Will Bynum will be the answer at the point guard. Mainstays Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton remain as does undersung big man Jason Maxiell. Chris Willcox offers support up front while Chucky Atkins has returned to the Pistons along with Ben Wallace. The Grizzlies, who have posted one win against four losses, have battled turnover problems throughout pre-season. Lionel Hollins has been less than pleased with the Grizzlies’ decision-making and with the final three games of the pre-season spread out over 13 days, there is plenty of practice time to remedy the situation. The Grizzlies will also have to address defensive concerns, particularly in the middle. Atlanta was able to get to the rim easily on Wednesday night as Grizzlies defenders missed coverages. WIth so much turnover and so much youth, such missteps are to be expected, but Hollins is pushing the Grizzlies to grow up fast. While Hollins will do some experimenting with his lineup, he has an eye on the REAL Pistons game on Opening Night. Sam Young is on an alternate-game track with a strong games followed by struggles. If you buy into that, Young should go for 20 or more tonight. 2009-10-17T19:57:48+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/postgame_thoughts_grizzlies_vs._magic/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/postgame_thoughts_grizzlies_vs._magic/ Unlike the Grizzlies’ previous home outing, there was no fourth quarter comeback. Good energy, but . . . The Orlando Magic remained perfect on the preseason, dumping the Memphis Grizzlies 102-83 Monday night. While Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter sat this one out, Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis did not. Howard posted his usual double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds) while Lewis struggled with his shot en route to 14 points—half of them coming from the free throw line. The Magic showed their normal colors, taking a remarkable 29 three-point attempts, making 11. For the Grizzlies, no Mike Conley due to a sprained right ankle (though he did tell me and Sean Tuohy that it was nothing to worry about) and the boys in blue were playing their second back-to-back of the preseason. Matt Barnes got the Magic off to a fast start with 10 points in the first five minutes of the game. In what was largely a game of runs, the Grizzlies alternately hung with the Magic and fell behind by double digits. Some postgame ponderings: - The Grizzlies are playing with great energy, most notably Sam Young and DeMarre Carroll. These two will be fan favorites and the challenge will be to get them on the floor in a regular rotation. Young was particularly effective, scoring 22 points off the bench. But Young’s performance served as a microcosm of the 2009-2010 Grizzlies to this point: great energy and productivity, tempered by a game-high six turnovers and five missed free throws in nine attempts. - It’s evident that Chris Wallace has selected well in the draft and the Grizzlies have more talent than they’ve had in recent history. The challenge for Lionel Hollins and his staff is getting this collection to play with greater cohesion and consistency. One handicap as far as the regular season is concerned is that the Grizzlies won’t really be able to figure out the full package since Allen Iverson won’t play in the preseason. - Hasheem Thabeet shows flashes of ability in both rebounding and shot blocking, but he’s got a way to go in terms of consistency. Also, he seemed to be winded though playing just 18 minutes due to foul problems. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly The Good Sam Young continues to impress. His energy seems to know no bounds and he sells out with effort at both ends of the floor. In both home games, he’s been very impressive and his offensive aggression has earned him plenty of trips to the foul line. For a team whose offense previously stagnated into one-on-one play and jump shots with the shot clock winding down, Young’s willingness to throw his body around is a most welcome tonic. The Bad While we all have to remember that the Grizzlies are a young team with major turnover from last season, it’s a great concern that the Grizzlies keep turning the ball over. True, they did force 23 from Orlando, but the Grizzlies committed 23 of their own. You can’t score if you don’t have the ball and the Magic are too good offensively to give them extra opportunities. The Ugly The Grizzlies, though more talented than in their previous incarnations, will still have little margin for error in the always-rugged Western Conference. Poor free throw shooting negates a lot of good work. Monday night, the Grizzlies left nine points on the table with 17 of 26 free throw shooting. While it would not have made a difference against the Magic, most nights 65% free throw shooting will be a severe impediment to winning. 2009-10-13T03:21:20+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/postgame_thoughts_grizzlies_vs._thunder/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/postgame_thoughts_grizzlies_vs._thunder/ While the pregame mood was a little subdued with the revelation that Allen Iverson will miss about three weeks with a hamstring injury, the Grizzlies’ youngsters manufactured a fourth-quarter rally for their first win. In putting together a 99-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Grizzlies’ rookie Sam Young served notice that he’s not around to just buy doughnuts for the veterans. With the Grizzlies struggling offensively, Young went to work in the fourth quarter attacking the rim and getting to the line a remarkable 16 times in the game, making 13. After a season where the Grizzlies’ bench was largely a non-factor, the arrival of Young, along with Hasheem Thabeet and DeMarre Carroll, bodes well for Memphis’ future fortunes off the pine. While the Grizzlies’ starters exhibited crisp ball movement for open shots, their accuracy left something to be desired. Zach Randolph was 1 of 5 and Mike Conley was just 1 of 7. In the plus/minus stats, the starters failed to gain much traction against OKC, but the reserves were all on the plus side of the ledger, led by Young. One item Lionel Hollins has been preaching in camp is that if you have an open shot, take it. The Grizzlies were too bashful with open looks, passing on them and sometimes allowing the OKC defense to recover and an open 20-footer became a contested 17-footer. The Grizzlies will have to sharpen up their decision-making, not only in the realm of shot selection but also ball handling. Consecutive nights of 20+ turnovers are deadly in the regular season. The Grizzlies kicked away 10 points on 6 turns in the first quarter alone as the Thunder built a 6-point advantage. I liked the aggressiveness on the boards and the willingness to take it to the rack and draw fouls. As you might expect in the second pre-season game (and the back end of a back to back after two-a-day training camp), play was ragged but spirited. With regard to the Iverson injury, it will set back the process of Hollins’ mixing and matching lineups to find the best combination. However, it will open the floor for other players—such as Sam Young who can play the off guard position—to impress and refine their skills. Special props to DeMarre Carroll who spoke before the game with enthusiasm and sincerity to the fans. I think that Memphis will fall in love with their rookie class of 2009. 2009-10-08T13:16:52+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/training_camp_--_dr._jack/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/training_camp_--_dr._jack/ After the Birmingham open practice, I had the chance to chat with Dr. Jack Ramsay and get his thoughts about the Grizzlies. He may not be on the Mount Rushmore of NBA coaches, but very few coaches command as much respect as Dr. Jack Ramsay. It was Ramsay who engineered one of the greatest comebacks in NBA Finals history, guiding the Portland Trail Blazers (with current Grizzlies coaches Johnny Davis and Lionel Hollins on the roster) from an 0-2 deficit to the 1977 NBA title over Philadelphia. Ramsay, whose “Dr.” title comes from his Ph.D. in education, traveled from his home in Florida to Birmingham to watch the Grizzlies go through their paces. Dr. Jack, who still can be heard on game broadcasts on ESPN Radio, sat courtside at Sunday’s open practice. Afterwards, I checked in with the Hall of Famer. “They still have a ways to go,” Dr. Jack told me. But he appreciated the very hands-on and fundamental-heavy approach of his former player. Like team owner Michael Heisley, Dr. Jack believes that the Grizzlies success this season will be a direct function of how they play as a team. It was an observation that Hollins made indirectly during the warmup portion of the practice saying that some players play differently “when there are people watching” from the stands. Dr. Jack, and by extension Hollins, believes in teamwork rather than individual brilliance. That approach will have to take root with a Grizzlies team much more talented than last year’s squad, but with less-defined roles. How will Allen Iverson fit in? Will O.J. Mayo play some point guard? Will Zach Randolph thrive in an up-and-down system? Can the Grizzlies integrate three rookies into the system? What about the defense? Despite the presence on the roster of four players who can give you 20 points per game, the Grizzlies will have to be greater than the sum of their parts. It was that quality that helped the 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers to an NBA title. The Grizzlies would be pleased if they could earn an invitation to the NBA’s post-season party. 2009-10-06T02:47:57+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/training_camp_--_after_further_review/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/training_camp_--_after_further_review/ Instant review will be expanded for the 2009-2010 season. No coach’s challenges, but new rules to ensure greater accuracy and get calls correct. The NBA Board of Governors approved a new expansion of instant replay rules for the coming season. There are two main ways in which replay will be used to assist officials: Shot Clock If officials have doubt as to whether or not a successful field goal was made before the expiration of the shot clock (and a row of amber lights on the backboard are an added assist this season), the referee must make a call and then signal a stoppage for replay review. During that review, the referee may use replay to determine if a shot was timely, whether it was a two- or a three-point goal, whether a foul occurred before the expiration of the clock, whether there was a boundary violation or an eight-second violation. The review may only occur for a successful field goal. Out of Bounds As with shot clock issues, the referee may use instant replay to confirm/overturn a call on the floor regarding possession in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or an overtime period. The replay can be used to determine who touched the ball last, if the game clock was stopped properly when the ball went out of bounds, or if a shot clock or eight-second violation is the appropriate call. In the past, instant replay was used to determine fouls and/or successful goals at the end of the first three quarters plus the fourth quarter but only if the result had an impact on the game. This season, a review will be called for even in those instances where the result will not affect the outcome of the game. The reason? To ensure the integrity of the statistics. Flagrant Fouls In addition, the NBA officiating staff has refined the criteria for flagrant fouls. The word used to describe a Flagrant, Penalty One is still “unnecessary” and Flagrant Twos are still “unnecessary and excessive.” However, the league has added criteria to help determine what exactly is “unnecessary” and “excessive.” Referees are being instructed to look for: - the severity of contact - was the foul committed while the fouling player was making a legitimate basketball play - the presence of a “wind-up” by the fouling player in delivering the blow that caused the foul - the potential for injury resulting from the act of the fouling player - the severity of the injury (if any) suffered by the fouled player - the overall outcome of that contact (e.g. did it cause an altercation) This is an extremely positive step for the NBA. Previously, “unnecessary and excessive” was open to interpretation with only a passing mention of “wind-up” and “follow through” on fouling contact as determining factors for assessment of flagrant fouls. Notice, that there is no specifici mention of “going for the head” which has always been a major point of conversation. It’s not whether a player is struck in the head per se that determines if a flagrant foul is to be assessed, but rather if that blow was or was not part of a a legitimate basketball play and whether or not there was a wind-up or whether or not the fouled player was sent sprawling in an awkward manner with potential for injury. The guidelines for flagrant fouls have been well thought-out and, after the rash of flagrant fouls in last years NBA Playoffs, a welcome addition to the NBA rule book. 2009-10-04T17:47:31+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/training_camp_--_part_three/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/training_camp_--_part_three/ Everything in life, not just Twitter and Facebook, is about communication. Basketball is as much a mental and communication exercise as a sport. Lionel Hollins is trying to amp up the volume on his team’s on-court communication. Photos: Day 3 | Day 2 Regular readers of this space know that I have pointed out my admiration for the San Antonio Spurs if for no other reason than this—they play as a team. A major part of that isn’t just chemistry or the right combination of players on the floor. The Spurs talk. A lot. They call out screens, warn teammates of switches and exhort their mates to work a little harder. One game last season against the Spurs was not televised, so I had the opportunity to listen to the floor chatter without the barrier of a headset. It was a most enlightening evening, listening to the Spurs talk on defense, making sure that everyone was in a good defending position, never assuming that their teammate knew exactly what to do. And this is far from a brain-dead team. The level of conversation among the Grizzlies was relatively muted and it showed in the defensive statistics. Factor in the fact that few very players, okay, just two, were on the roster oh, just a couple of years ago and you’d be right to be concerned about cohesion and communication. The first day of practice, the Grizzlies seemed like a group of strangers just getting acquainted at a basketball camp. By today (day 3 of camp), the Grizzlies were a chattering and chirping all over the floor. Energy was high and communication was at a high level on both ends of the floor. I asked Lionel Hollins if he had had a conversation with the team about the need for cooperative chatter and he attributed the team’s vocalness to their “growth as a team.” He also pointed out that “when you have a better understanding of where you are and what it is you’re doing, that allows you to talk a lot more too.” Among the most vocal today: Zach Randolph and O.J. Mayo. Layups - Assistant coach Johnny Davis ran a portion of Thursday morning’s practice and focused on defense, particularly the need to plug the lane and force the ball to the wings. - The newcomers seemed to be having a harder time grasping the team nature of defense. More specifically, they need to be more aware of the consequences of a blown defensive assignment. Their man may not score, but their slipup might allow an easy shot for someone else. - Hollins ran a 4 on 4 drill and sped up the tempo by having a 10-second shot clock. He also ran the team through timed drills and gave them goals to hit so there was urgency and focus. - I know it’s early, but I see that O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay are poised for great seasons. Mayo is carrying himself like a seasoned veteran and his talking on the court helped his younger teammates navigate the offense. For all the joking that Rudy did at Media Day, he’s been all business and hasn’t been backing down from anybody. - Hasheem Thabeet has tremendous physical gifts, but will need to develop a greater feel for the game and be able to play without thinking about what he needs to do. His unfamiliarity with the NBA game has him a half-step behind and flatfooted against more experienced opposition. - Fellow rookie DeMarre Carroll has a high motor and might be one of the steals of the draft when it’s all said and done. Tough, hungry and businesslike, I predict he will be a fan favorite. - Lionel Hollins has been riding everyone at one time or another—veteran and rookie alike—it’s that approach that has won him supporters in the lockerroom. Fair, demanding, disciplined and to the point, Hollins would appear to have the perfect personality and voice for this team. - Hard to believe I could get this far in a post and not mention Allen Iverson. Well, Iverson has blended in very well. He’s vocal, helpful to the rookies and doing all the right things. Assistant coach Dave Joerger told me today that there is a confidence with the Grizzlies that he hasn’t seen before. “It’s not giddiness,” he cautioned, but rather “very professional, very businesslike.” Joerger also said that the Grizzlies feel that they have something to prove to the fans of Memphis and the rest of the NBA about how good this group can be. 2009-10-01T22:40:17+00:00 http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/training_camp_--_part_two/ http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/pranica/comments/training_camp_--_part_two/ One of the major concerns of Lionel Hollins when he took over the Grizzlies was the team’s conditioning. If Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are any indication, the Grizz athletic training staff could be the team’s MVP. Photos: Training Camp: Day 2 | Media Day Portraits | More from Media Day When NBA players are away from the grind of the regular season, they can do one of two ways: they can maintain and enhance the body with proper diet and exercise or they can go off the wagon for most of the summer and hope to work themselves into shape in training camp. News flash geniuses—you can’t work your way into shape at camp. You can heighten your conditioning, but what you are when you arrive at camp is pretty much where you’ll be. And Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are in very good places. Not that Marc was overly hefty or out of shape, but the goal was to get him to drop fat and pick up muscle mass. Immediately after the conclusion of last season, Grizzlies assistant athletic trainer Jason Biles laid out a diet and exercise program to address those goals. How well did it work? Well, when Biles landed in Barcelona to work with Gasol for a week, he wasn’t sure which Gasol was picking him up at the airport. “He gets out of the car, and I’m thinking: ‘is that Pau?’” A trimmed beard and pared down mane along with a sleeker frame caused the double take. The switch from fat to muscle makes it look a little bit like Marc won’t be as strong in the post, but Biles told me that Marc’s better body composition will make him a more efficient athlete and has enhanced his lower-body strength. Most everyone knows that both of the Gasols are very coachable and agreeable to taking suggestions from trainers for their welfare. Zach Randolph came to Memphis without that reputation, but his adherence to Biles’ program has resulted in a startling transformation. I talked to Randolph after Tuesday’s night session and he confirmed what my eyes led me to believe—he’s in the best shape of his career. Randolph will never be an Adonis bodybuilder type, but by eating smartly and following the exercise program designed for him, Z-Bo has dropped 18 pounds and his body fat has dropped by more than half. Given that he was so quick off his feet with the extra weight, you can imagine how much better he might be this season. The key, according to Biles, is to really get after the athletes and not give them the free pass they’ve become accustomed to in other areas of their lives. Even then, an athletic trainer can only do so much. The trainer can spot for lifts and check for proper form and motivate in the weight room. When it comes to diet, well, there are limits to what an athletic trainer can do. “We can’t put the food in their mouth for them,” Biles chuckled. But he quickly added that Randolph was an eager and willing student when it came to cutting fat, adding strength and building his core to become more athletically efficient. Athletic training staffs are often overlooked, but their importance cannot be denied. Shaquille O’Neal improved his performance last season due in large part to Aaron Nelson’s staff in Phoenix and their understanding of his unique physique. Above and beyond that, it is encouraging to see that two integral pieces of the Grizzlies plans have been eagerly embracing the program. 2009-09-30T15:35:29+00:00